Manual starting mechanism for timepieces



Jan 8, 1963 J. REBER, JR., ETAL 3,071,920

MANUAL STARTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed March 21, 1960 INVENTOR'S JOHN REBER, JR. DONALD A BLY DANIEL FRITSCH vania Filed Mar. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,328 11 Claims. (Cl. 58-85.5)

' United States Patent O This invention relates to manual starting mechanisms for timepieces and more particularly to timepieces having manual starting mechanisms which are actuatable when the hands of the timepiece are set.

I In many electromagnetically operated timepieces in use today, in which an oscillating balance wheel assembly is energized once during each oscillation cycle, the balance wheel will often fail to (or is adapted not to) resume oscillation if the source of electrical energy is removed and then reapplied after the balance wheel comes to rest.

It is accordingly necessary in timepieces of this type to provide means for restarting the timepieces whenever it has stopped, either because of time adjustment, mechanical adjustment, or perhaps for the replacement of batteries or other electrical energizing means. I

Although constructions are known in which the setting stem of the timepiece is utilized to impart a starting impulse to the timepiece, such devices have not been found satisfactory for use in conjunction with automobile clocks and the like, wherein the vertical mounting in the automobile dashboard makes it desirable to employ a setting stem at right angles to the plane of the balance wheel. In addition, many of the prior art starting mechanisms have been cumbersome, inefficient and manufactured only at high cost.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved starting mechanism for electrically driven timepieces which overcomes the deficiencies of prior art starting mechanisms as above noted.

It is another principal object of the present invention to provide a starting mechanism for electrically driven timepieces wherein the starting impulse is supplied by means of the setting stem of the timepiece.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a starting mechanism for timepieces in which the starting impulse is provided by axial movement of a setting stem whose axis is substantially normal to the plane of the balance wheel of the timepiece.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved starting mechanism for timepieces including a novel cam driven pivoted spring member which is effective not only to reliably start the timepiece during the setting operation, but to brake the balance wheel assembly during the setting operation to preclude the possibility of damage to the sensitive timepiece elements. 7

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and claims, and appended drawings wherein: A FIGURE 1 shows a rear elevation of several elements of a timepiece forming the subject matter of the present invention, with the elements in thenon-setting position of the setting stern;

FIGURE 2 shows a top plan view, partially in section, of the timepiece shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the timepiece shown in FIGURES l and 2 with the elements in the setting position of the setting stem; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the timepiece shown in FIGURE 3.

As shown in the drawings, a generally L-shaped spring Patented Jan. 8, 1963 member 10 has a leg 14 which is fixed to a stationary portion (i.e., the frame) of the timepiece at its end 12 and is provided with a toothed member 16, in the form of a rack, at the end of its arm 18. Approximately midway between end 12 and the juncture 20 of leg and arm portions 14 and 18 is a cam surface 22. In the immediate vicinity of cam surface 22 is a setting pinion 24 which is supported on setting stem 26 which is in turn provided with a conventional knurled setting knob 28 which is accessible for setting of the timepiece in the normal manner. Intermediate juncture 20 and rack 16, arm 18 of spring 10 is provided with a tab 38 which is positioned adjacent a pin40 which is fixed to the frame 42 of the timepiece.

In proximity to rack 16 is the balance assembly indicated generally at 30 and including a balance wheel 32 and a gear 34, both of which are fixedly supported on a balance staff 36.

The remaining elements of the timepiece of the present invention are conventional and need not be described at this point.

"the operation of the timepiece of the present invention is as follows:

FIGURES l and .2 show the timepiece in the non-setting position of the-setting stem 26. When it is desired to Set the watch, setting stem 26 is pulled outwardly (downwardly in the position shown in FIGURE 2) by means of knurled setting knob 28. In the course of the outward movement of the setting stem, setting pinion 24 is urged against cam surface 22, tending to urge leg 14 of spring member 10 in a counter-clockwise direction about its end 12 and, correspondingly, tending to urge arm 18 of spring member to the right as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2. Were it not for the presence of pin 40, arm 18 would tend to remain at a constant angle relative to leg 14, and, accordingly, rack 16 would move toward gear 34. Since tab 38 on arm 18 will engage pin 40 almost at the beginning of the movement of arm 18, however, arm 18 (and accordingly rack 16) is prevented from moving in the direction of gear 34 and, in fact, will be pivoted in a clockwise direction about the moving pivot point formed at the juncture 20 of leg 14 and arm 18.

As is clearly shown in FIGURE 1, at this point in the 3 operation, pin 40 will be positioned intermediate tab 38 and gear 34.

Tab 38 is dimensioned so that at about the same time that setting stem 26 reaches the limit of its outward movement, viz., when it is in its setting position, the tab will clear pin 40. Since arm 18 of spring member 10 has been bowed in a clockwise direction through its cooperation with pin 40, its release from the pin will effectively uncock the spring and snap rack 16 into engagement with gear 34, as clearly shown in FIGURE 3. Since spring member 10 at this point has reached the limit of its movement in the direction of the balance assembly 30 (since the setting stem 26 is in its setting position at the point of engagement between rack 16 and gear 34), no rotation of gear 34 will take place upon its engagement with rack 34 but, on the contrary, rack 16 will immediately serve to brake gear 34 and, correspondingly, balance wheel 32.

The position of the elements at this point is that shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Though not so illustrated in the drawings, setting pinion 24 will be in engagement with the minute wheel of the timepiece and the hands of the timepiece may accordingly be set as desired.

After the setting operation, setting stem 26 is returned to its non-setting position by moving it inwardly (upwardly in the position shown in FIGURE 4) into the casing of the timepiece. A-s setting stem 26 moves back to its non-setting position, the withdrawal of setting pinion 24 from cam surface 22 permits the latter surface to return toward its original position by virtue of the resiliency of spring member 10. Again, though arm 18 of spring member would normally tend to remain at a constant angle relative to leg 14 in the course of the clockwise movement of the latter about the end 12 of the spring member, tab 38 on arm 18 is engaged by the side of pin 40 closest to gear 34 and prevented from doing so. The effect of this restraint on tab 38 is to pivot arm 18 in a counterclockwise direction about the moving pivot formed at juncture 20 of leg 14 and arm I18, thus cocking arm 18. Substantially at the point at which setting stem 26 has reached its non-setting position, tab 38 clears pin 40 and arm 18 is uncocked and snapped back into its original non-setting position.

The movement of the spring member 18 back to its original position during movement of setting stem 26 from its setting to its non-setting position is substantially continuous. Throughout this movement and up until the point of release of tab 38 from pin 40, rack 16 is in meshing engagement with gear 34, tending to rotate it in a clockwise direction. This rotation is suificient to give balance wheel 32 (which is fixed relative to gear 34) the impulse necessary to cause the timepiece to resume operartion. The sharp kick given gear 34 by rack 16 as arm 18 snaps away from pin 40 is especially helpful in assuring that the balance wheel 32 is given a sufiicient impulse to put the timepiece into running condition.

As will be apparent from the preceding description, the starting mechanism of the instant invention is extremely effective and reliable, involves few moving parts, and is simple and inexpensive to fabricate. In addition, the brake mechanism provided by the initial engagement of rack 16 with gear 34 is fully effective to prevent damage to the delicate escapement mechanism. The starting mechanism of the present invention is particularly suited for use in automobile clock-s, where it is desirable and necessary from a practical standpoint to position the setting stem perpendicularly to the plane of the balance wheel, but may be used in other timepieces with equal advantage.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An electric timepiece including a balance staii; a balance wheel mounted on said balance staff; a gear mounted on said balance staff; a setting stern having setting and non-setting positions; a setting pinion on said setting stern; and starting means for imparting oscillatory motion to said balance wheel after it has come to rest and comprising cam means enga'geable by said setting pinion in the setting position of said setting stem; toothed means associated with said cam means; said cam means when engaged by said setting pinion being efiective to urge said toothed means into engagement with said gear; and means to effect return of said toothed means upon return of said setting stem to its non-setting position and to cause said toothed means to mesh with said gear during its return movement to cause said gear and said balance wheel to rotate.

2. An electric timepiece as defined in claim 1 wherein said starting means comprises a spring member fixed at one end to said frame and having said toothed means at its other end; said cam means being positioned intermediate said ends.

3. An electric timepiece as defined in claim 2 wherein means are provided to limit motion of said toothed means towards said gear until said setting stem reaches a predetermined point in the course of its movement towards its setting position; said limit means being disabled whereby said toothed means is caused to snap into engagement with said gear when said setting stern reaches said predetermined point; movement of said toothed means substantially terminating at the moment of engagement of said toothed means with said gear.

4. An electric timepiece as defined in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said setting stem is normal to the plane of said balance wheel.

5. An electrical timepiece as defined in claim 3 wherein said limit means is situated between said gear and said spring member in the non-setting position of said setting stem, said limit means cooperating with said spring to cock said spring Without altering the relative position of said gear, said spring and said limit means until said setting stem reaches said predetermined point whereupon said limit means is disabled and said spring is uncooked, snapping said tooth means into engagement with said gear, said uncocking of said spring causing said spring to be situated between said gear and said limit means in the setting position of said setting stem, said limit means co operating with said spring as said setting stem is returned to its non-setting position to cock said spring without altering the relative position of said gear, said spring and said limit means until said setting stem reaches said nonsetting position whereupon said limit means is disabled and said spring is uncooked, said uncocking of said spring causing said gear and said balance wheels to rotate.

6. An electric timepiece as defined in claim 5 wherein said limit means comprises a projection fixed to the stationary portion of said timepiece and a (tab carried by said spring.

7. An electric timepiece including a balance staff; a balance wheel mounted on said balance stafii; a gear mounted on said balance stafi; resilient starting means; a setting stem having setting and non-setting positions; said setting stern including means for biasing said starting means into "a first position by movement of said setting stem to its setting position; said starting means returning to a second position by movement of said setting stem to its non-setting position; and tooth means carried by said starting means; said tooth means engaging said gear and stopping said balance wheel when said starting means is in said first position; said starting means including means for snapping said tooth means from engagement with said gear for imparting motion to said balance wheel when said starting means is moved to its second position.

8. An electric timepiece as defined in claim 7 wherein said starting means comprises a spring member fixed at one end to said frame and having said tooth means at its other end.

9. An electric timepiece as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for snapping said tooth means comprises means to limit motion of said tooth means towards said gear until said setting stern reaches a predetermined point in the course of its movement towards its setting position; said limit means being disabled whereby said tooth means is caused to snap into engagement with said gear when said setting stern reaches said predetermined point; movement of said tooth means substantially terminating at the moment of engagement of said tooth means with said gear.

10. An electrical timepiece as defined in claim 9 wherein said limit means is situated between said gear and said spring in the non-setting position of said setting stem, said limit means cooperating with said spring to cock said spring Without altering the relative position of said gear, said spring and said limit means until said setting stem reaches said predetermined point whereupon said limit means is disabled and said spring is uncocked, snapping said tooth means into engagement with said gear, said uncocking of said spring causing said spring to be situated between said gear and said limit means in the setting position of said setting stem, said limit means co- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Aldrich et a1 Nov. 6, Browning Jan. 1, Ayres Aug. 27, Drescher Apr. 3, Vaulry July 26,

FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Aug. 16,

Great Britain Mar. 24, 

7. AN ELECTRIC TIMEPIECE INCLUDING A BALANCE STAFF; A BALANCE WHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID BALANCE STAFF; A GEAR MOUNTED ON SAID BALANCE STAFF; RESILIENT STARTING MEANS; A SETTING STEM HAVING SETTING AND NON-SETTING POSITIONS; SAID SETTING STEM INCLUDING MEANS FOR BIASING SAID STARTING MEANS INTO A FIRST POSITION BY MOVEMENT OF SAID SETTING STEM TO ITS SETTING POSITION; SAID STARTING MEANS RETURNING TO A SECOND POSITION BY MOVEMENT OF SAID SETTING STEM TO ITS NON-SETTING POSITION; AND TOOTH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID STARTING MEANS; SAID TOOTH MEANS ENGAGING SAID GEAR AND STOPPING SAID BALANCE WHEEL WHEN SAID STARTING MEANS IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION; SAID STARTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR SNAPPING SAID TOOTH MEANS FORM ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GEAR FOR IMPARTING MOTION TO SAID BALANCE WHEEL WHEN SAID STARTING MEANS IS MOVED TO ITS SECOND POSITION. 